Roller skate wheel



Aug. 12, 1952 H. SPECHT ROLLER SKATE WHEEL Filed Feb. 12. 1948 HAROLD L. SPECHT A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 12, 1952 91.- ROLLER SKATE WHEEL HaroldL. Specht, .Parma, Ohio Application February 12, 1948, Serial No. 7,932 V 4 Claims. (cigar-mi This invention relates generally to roller skates and more particularly to a lubricating cap or device for the wheels of roller skates.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved structure for maintaining the roller skate wheels properly lubricated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cap for the skate wheel, which will prevent the lubricant from leaking out .of the skate wheel and which will also improve the appearance of the skate.

Still another object of my invention is to provide means for quickly replacing or removing the aforementioned cap. I

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a roller skate wheel embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational'view of the-wheel shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 31s a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the retainer ring utilized in my invention.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the ring shown-in Fig. 4.

, Fig. dis a plan view of the lubricating ring utilized in my invention.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing a modified form of retainer ring, and

Fig. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the ring of Fig. '7.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, it will be seen that the skate wheel is provided with an axially extending bore 2, whereby it is rotatably mounted on an axle 3.

The wheel I is counterbored to form a recess 4 which is adapted to receive an outer race ring 5 forming part of an anti-friction bearing assembly, designated broadly by the numeral 6. An inner race I is slidably mounted on the axle 3, and interposed between the inner and outer races are balls 8 which complete the bearing assembly.

A look washer 9 and a nut H! are secured to the end of shaft 3, the shaft being threaded as at H to receive the nut Ill. The nut may be adjusted to maintain the wheel and the bearing in proper alignment, each with the other.

In order to properly lubricate the hearing assembly 6, I have provided a lubricating ring [2 I which 'may .be formed 0fv felt, fiber, or other suitable lubricant retaining material. The ring |2 has a central opening I3, a circumferential flange portion l4 which lies against a. face l6 of thewheel I, and an annular portion I5, which extends into the recess 4 and lies againstithe outer bearing race 5. v I I The ring I2 is impregnated with a low-melting lubricant, which will slowly liq-uefy and flow into the bearing assembly 6 as the bearing becomes heated through rapid rotation of the wheel I. The-lubricating medium selected is one which will liquefy in the range of -125 degrees F.

The lubricating ring I2 is held in place on the wheel I by. a retainer ring I! which is provided with a central opening l8 and a. plurality of circumferentially-spaced openings Ill. The retainer ring I! overlies the flange llof'the ring [2, and issecuredxto the wheel I by means ofscrews 20 which extend through the openings l9. The flange I4' is thereby. securely clamped in position between the face l6 of the wheel'andthe retainer ring If desired, however, other means of securing the retainer ring [-1 to thewheel may be employed, as for'example, pins, rivets, spotwelding, etc. V

In order-to protect the bearing assembly against theentrance' of foreign matter and, further, to prevent thelubricant from being whirled out, a cap 2| is utilized toshield the bearing assembly. The cap 2| may be of any suitable form, but it is preferable that it be pleasing in appearance and therefore I have shown it as spherical in contour. The cap 2| is provided with a circumferential flange 22 in which is formed a circumferential groove 23. The ring I! is provided with a circumferential bead 24 which is complementary to the groove 23 and is adapted to fit therein. In assembling the cap 2| to the wheel, the cap is snapped over the ring being retained thereon by the aforementioned bead 24.

The cap 2|, as well as the retainer ring H, the lubricating ring I 2 and the outer race 5, rotate with the wheel I as it revolves about the axle 3.

The cap 2| will prevent the lubricant from splattering out and will prevent dust and other foreign matter from entering the bearing assembly 6. The cap will also help to prevent damage to the end of the axle 3 as well as protecting the wearer of the skates and bystanders against injury which mightbe caused by the sharp end of the axle in the event of spills or falls.

As previously mentioned, the low-melting movable to permit access to and inspection of. the various parts of the wheel assembly and that no tools are required for its removal orreplacemerit.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown'therein a modified form or retainer ring H, which is similar in all respects to the ring H, but is formed with an integral central or web portion 25 provided with a central opening 28. The web portion 25 is considerably thinner than the. portion of the ring which: surroundszit, while-the portion of the. web immediately surrounding the. opening 26 is thickened, as at: 21. This constrnctionof the retainer: ring is" designed to. facilitate: proper positioning or centering of the ring, and consequently the cap 2 i, wth respectito the-'skateiwheel; In attaching the ring 11" tciithe skate; wheel, theringri'spassed-over the axle as by causing the end of the axle toenter: the opening 25, thereby properly centering the ring. Thereafter, the thinned web portion; 25, including the portion 2], is. broken off, in any desired manner, and is removed. The. ring I11. is their secured tothe wheel. in the; same manner asitheiring 11..

Til-ea ring. H mayalso be properly-centered with respect to'the wheel; as by insertingv a bushing in the opening It. thereof, said. bushing having: a central opening oiiapproxim'ately the same diameter as the axle 3.. The bushing is then placed over the end ofthe axlawithxthe end ofthe: axle extending-into or through the central opening in the bushing. This centers the ring properly with respect to the wheel: The ring is; then. attached to the wheel .b-yv means already described,; after. which the bushing is removed.

It is tobe understood that the devices-,as herein described, maybe used either as'original: equipment orinsta llationfor' new skates, or may be incorporatedinexisting skates as accessories.

said retaining ring. 1

a wheel rotatably mounted on said axle, said wheel having a bearing recess therein, a bearing assembly disposed within said recess in operative association with said wheel and said axle, a lubricantretaining element disposed within said recess in lubricating relationship to said bearing assembly; a retaining ring secured to said wheel in juxtapositionto said lubricant retaining element whereby to maintain said element against displacement, and a closure adapted to overlie said recess, said closure being frictionally secured to 2. A combination, as defined in-claim- -1 in which said retaining ring hasmeans associated therewith for facilitating centering of the ring with respect to" the wheelv 3. A combination, as defined in claim 2, in which said means comprises a thin web portion for-medintegrally with the ringandhavi-ng acentral opening therein; 7 r

4. In a roller skate with the structure described in claim 1, said retaining ring having means comprising a removable bushing, with a central opening, associated therewith for facilitating centering of the ring with respect to. the wheel.

HAROLD L. SPECHT.

REFERENCES. err-En The following references are of record infthe file of this patent: V

UI QITED. STATES PATENTS Daniel Feb. 1,1944 

